With the Rover smartphone cage system, grip manufacturer Matthews Studio Equipment enters the world of smartphone filmmaking.
With its 50 years of experience in the manufacture of grip equipment, Matthews Studio Equipment has become synonymous with industry-standard, quality products. Matthews’ new Rover smartphone cage system first made an appearance back in February for an unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign. Despite this brief setback, MSE went ahead with product development, bringing their pedigree in the industry into the new era of smartphone filmmaking.
The MSE Rover Smartphone Cage
The core of the Rover system are the two aluminium brackets that hold your phone in place. The system has been designed to work with most popular smartphones models and 3rd-party lens systems.
The cage itself is attached to a frame made of rods, which makes it possible to customise the placement of various accessories. In addition to a repositionable cold-shoe mount and fourteen 1/4”-20 mounting points (which Matthews calls Points of Freedom), the system also includes a tripod mount so you can attach a plate and go from sticks to handheld in no time.
The Rover smartphone cage comes with two handles to achieve more stable handheld footage. You can of course reposition the handles to wherever on the cage is more comfortable for you, and they can fully rotate. They can even serve as “easel arms” — think of it as a little kickstand for your smartphone so you can shoot from the floor, or so you set your device on a table for easy editing on the touchscreen. You can also stack the handles, giving you a longer reach for high-angle shots or if you want to go selfie.
The handles connect to the Rover smartphone cage via Matthew’s Perfect Friction system, which allows you to fix them in place without additional locks or extra friction.
Additionally, the Rover system has been designed to be compatible with the Matthews MicroGrip line of clamps, clips, knuckles and more, meaning you can mount the whole Rover cage system to virtually anywhere you need.
The Rover smartphone cage will be available from B&H for $237. According to the Rover product page, there will be various accessory packages available for $100 and above. The Rover will be on display at the Matthews booth at IBC 2017 in a few weeks.
Are you a smartphone filmmaker looking to rig up your device with a cage? Could the MSE Rover fit the bill? Let us know in the comments below!

Just when you thought the design of the classic camera slider couldn’t be improved, an Austrian startup called Waterbird has developed a “multi slider” that can be changed from a line to a curved slider just by physically bending the device. The Waterbird Bendable Slider works very well in practice, and seems perfect for expanding beyond the types of slider shots we see so often these days.
Image: Waterbird Systems
It’s a product clearly designed with time-lapse effects in mind and it comes with a motor, controller and battery pack for that very purpose. Motion is controlled by a phone or tablet though Bluetooth, and from our up-close view at NAB 2017, we could see that the movement along the length of the slider was smooth and the motion control worked very well.
Once you bend the slider to a specific shape, it’s held in place by locks on each end. Once locked, the multi-slider keeps its shape as the camera travels along the rail and the whole system has enough weight to it that the camera move doesn’t threaten to topple the whole thing over.
Image Credit: Waterbird Systems
The slider will be available in 80cm, 120cm and 150cm lengths. No matter the length you choose, you’ll be able to pick the applicable camera timelapse cable that works for your brand. Your kit will also come with 3 pairs of legs, a soft case and a battery pack.
Technical Highlights:
Configurable in Numerous Shapes
Motion Controlled Speed & Acceleration Ramps
Bluetooth Connectivity (iOS and Android)
Camera Trigger Port For Manual Triggering
Pricing and availability is yet to be determined, but we’ll update this post as soon as we know.
What do you think of the Waterbird Bendable Slider? Would this be useful as part of your motion control kit? Comment below!

LockCircle introduces their new Panasonic GH5 cage – the “Robot Skin”. It is designed to tightly fit the camera body and provide as many mounting threads for accessories as possible.
LockCircle Robot Skin GH5 Cage
The long-awaited Panasonic GH5 is now finally shipping and many accessories are starting to become available for it. The GH5 has grown a bit in size compared to the GH4 and GH3, so manufacturers will have to rethink their cage designs for this line. The Italian company LockCircle took the approach of creating a very lightweight tightly-wrapping cage, introduced as the Robot Skin.
As the company states, they’ve designed their new Panasonic GH5 cage based on international user feedback regarding their other cages and previous designs. They refer to their research and designing process as “cinematic research science”. LockCircle doesn’t even refer to their new product as a cage, but rather as a skin – emphasising the very tight-fit design.
The Robot Skin allows users to control all buttons and dials of the camera while adding many threads to mount various accessories. According to LockCircle, it is a natural extension of the original camera shape. However, real-world reviews and comparisons will have to show if the new design really is so much different than older LockCircle cages.
Panasonic GH5 wrapped in “Robot Skin” from LockCircle
LockCircle Panasonic GH5 cage features
Asymmetrical classic LockCircle cage design concept.
Right hand camera grabbing/control with original Lumix GH5 camera ergonomics.
Innovative SFA Straight Function Action with DTV Dials Total View design concept.
T-Wrap (total wrap) expansion module for right hand accessories/grip handles
90 (110 threads with T-Wrap) 1/4”-20, 3 (5 with T-Wrap)
Top Grip handle and Boombooster compatible accessories.
CNC machined from billet aircraft grade aluminum.
Ultra-Lightweight and professional heavy-duty grade strength.
High quality Swiss Anodizing with “professional grade” velvet surface finish.
Custom genuine titanium grade 5 screws and knobs.
MultiPort HDMI/USB/Audio port savers with connector locking.
Meta-Block mount (adjustable) for Metabones monolithic mounting.
IMS-Block for IMS – Mounts for the serious cinematographers needs.
Several IMS Professional lens mounts available: PL-Mount, Panavision,
Leica-R, Canon EF and Nikon with Positive-Lock.
New MicroMega ultra compact modular expandable BasePlate.
Focal Plain thread for AC measurement custom titanium hook.
New hi-tech deep anodized colours: Blumix, Noir Black, Purple Rain.
The new Panasonic GH5 cage from LockCircle should become available in mid May. As the company states in their press release, it will be a “limited edition – manufactured only on request for serious Lumix GH5 aficionados”. That sounds a bit weird, and I am not sure if that means the Robot Skin will not be available from retailers like other LockCircle products. We will keep you updated as soon as we know more about availability and pricing.
Do you use cages as an accessory for your camera? What is the most vital feature of a good cage for you? Let us know in the comments below.

The new Shoulderpod X1 combines stylish and functional parts to form a functional and modular rig system for smartphones.
Although there has been an explosion of new products to support the emerging form of smartphone-based cinematography — from apps such as FiLMiC Pro (check out some great articles about it HERE and HERE), and countless gimbal stabilisers — one thing is still true: it’s not only about the camera, whatever you may decide to shoot on. You will usually need a number of other accessories to make your camera footage look and sound better. The X1 rig from Shoulderpod is aimed at smartphones shooters looking to step up their production value with the use of the usual accessories such as microphones or lights.
The core of the Shoulderpod X1 system is based around their G1 grip/tripod mount. This durable accessory has been designed to hold phones from 48 to 93 mm in width, covering the whole range of the latest iPhones, Galaxies, Xperias and so on. Its 1/4”-20 port at the bottom allows you to easily install a standard tripod plate to your phone.
The next link in the chain is the S2, a nice-looking handle reminiscent of the upmarket wooden handles used in more expensive cinema rigs such as those from Tilta, Vocas or Shape.
However, the X1 starts to come into its own with the addition of the horizontal plates. These expand your 1/4”-20 ports along the horizontal axis, for a total of 4 or 6 depending on the model of plate.
This allows you to really customise the rig to your use, allowing for compact setups (phone, handle and external microphone, for example), to full-fledged two-handed rigs.
Since all pieces feature an additional 1/4”-20 at the bottom, the whole rig can be tripod-mounted for a quick transition between sticks and handheld.
Shoulderpod also offer various other accessories, such as a wriststrap, cold shoe mounts and 1/4”-20 screws, for fastening even more accessories.
One missing accessory that I think would be quite useful is a compact beltclip/rifle stock-style attachment à la Edelkrone Pocket Rig. This would provide a third point of contact and increase stability, especially if you need to take a hand off one of the handles to adjust the settings on your device while shooting.
All in all, it seems like a very neat and elegant solution for taking your smartphone videography up a notch, and could prove particularly useful for journalists who use their devices for video capture regularly.
Find out more at shoulderpod.com
Does the Shoulderpod X1 seem like the kind of device you would use as a smartphone shooter? Let us know in the comments below!

DJI just introduced a set of useful Mavic Pro accessories. Their smallest and most versatile drone, the DJI Mavic Pro has recently started shipping and received some very positive reviews both by amateurs as well as professionals. The foldable little aerial platform is probably the drone market leader’s most successful product ever.
The New Mavic Pro Accessories
Detail of Mavic Pro with new Propeller Cage
Propeller Cage without Mavic Pro
The Propeller Cage
DJI introduces two new Mavic Pro Accessories that shield the Mavic Pro’s propellers, providing an extra measure of safety and protection during flight. The Propeller Cage mounts on the Mavic Pro’s arms and completely encircles a set of slightly smaller 7728 Quick-Release Folding Propellers, while the Propeller Guard only places a barrier around the propellers.
New, smaller Mavic Pro Propellers, to fit the Propeller Cage
The Propeller Cage is probably ideal for those starting out with flying and want to avoid hurting someone. With the additional weight of the Propeller cage, unfortunately the Mavic Pro’s maximum flight time is reduced from 25 to only 12 minutes.
Mavic Pro with new Propeller Guard attached
The Propeller Guard
The second flight safety accessory is the propeller guard. As mentioned it only places a barrier around the drone which also seems like a great protection. Unfortunately there’s no word on reduced flight time, but I’m guessing that it’s also considerably less than when flying without the protection.
The other new Mavic Pro Accessories
Mavic Pro Advanced Battery Charging Hub
There are some more small Mavic Pro Accessories: The Advanced Battery Charging Hub for Mavic Pro is a charges up to four Intelligent Flight Batteries in a single session. The batteries will be charged in sequence according to their power levels, from high to low. It’s also compatible with the Phantom 4 series 100W charger that can further reduce the charging time. You need the charger itself in combination with the hub.
Mavic Pro Drone Sleeve Accessory
There’s also a “Drone Sleeve” that helps you store the Mavic Pro in a smaller form factor and protects it from dust and scratches. The downside of the new Mavic Pro Sleeve of course is that it won’t hold the other Mavic Pro accessories that you just bought.
DJI Mavic Pro ND Filters
New Mavic Pro ND Filters by DJI
Other Mavic Pro accessories include a new remote controller monitor hood and DJI ND Filters which can be easily attached to the camera gimbal, allowing you to control the camera’s exposure better in bright environments. This is often very important in order to keep the shutter speed to a cinematic 1/50th of a second.
Other Mavic Pro ND Filters
We have been testing the Freewell Mavic Pro ND Filters recently and found them pretty good. These are more expensive, but there are more filter options and the Freewell Mavic Pro ND Filters also incorporate a slight IR cancellation to make sure the filter quality is clean and they come in a nice case. We will have a review coming up soon and hope to get a hold of the DJI version as well.
Make sure to check out our Mavic Pro Review where we compared the drone quality to other drones and download our free Mavic Pro LUTs for color grading your footage.
All products are available immediately on the DJI Website:
ND Filters – $35
Drone Sleeve – $7
Smaller Propellers for the Cage – $9
Propeller Cage – $159
Propeller Guard – Available at a Later Date
Battery Charging Hub Advanced – $55
Remote controller monitor hood – $19

Good on-camera monitors are hard to find, are usually expensive, but are very, very necessary for shooting properly exposed, in-focus images. The HDMI Cinemartin Loyal LT 7″ FHD or UHD monitor has many of the features you may need with a great price-tag of only $99. All the details including availability below:
The Cinemartin Loyal LT has false color, histogram, peaking, waveform, zoom and more, while being priced at an impressive $99. Lets get this one fact out of the way quickly: No, this is not an SDI monitor (you can’t have everything!). This HDMI-only on-camera monitor is available in FHD (LT) or UHD (S4K) resolution versions for the same price, but the FHD version is brighter (600nits), when compared with 550 nits for the UHD version.
Along with a headphone jack, the 0.75 LBS Loyal LT has two 1/4″-20 mounting points on the top and bottom. It should be noted that for $99 you are getting a bare bones package here, and if you want a sunshade, Sony battery plate, HDMI cable and cold shoe arm, you’ll be shelling out another $50.00.
You can buy the Cinemartin Royal LT or LT 24K directly from their website HERE.
Cinemartin Loyal LT – Tech Specs:
Size: 7″ inch
Weight: .75 LBS. without battery plate.
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (LT Version) or 2160p (LT 24K Version)
1200:1 Contrast Ratio
Input: HDMI
Power: Input of 12V with 14W consumption
Tools: False color, Histogram, Peaking, RGB Parade, Waveform, Zoom, Audio Levels
Availability: Shipping now
Monitor price: $99.00
Perhaps understandably so, major camera manufacturers have been devoted to the recorded image quality, and haven’t exactly provided us great built-in camera monitors. This has created a gap that has been easily filled by companies such as Zacuto, SmallHD and Marshall. These 3rd party monitors are generally fantastic, feature-rich and provide many tools filmmakers regard as a necessity such as histogram, peaking, waveform etc. They are usually on the expensive side, but the Cinemartin Loyal LT seems to be the exception.
Personally, however, I would for more reviews of this monitor before jumping to buy. At a price of $99, there are certainly a few corners cut on the manufacturing side, but cheap doesn’t always mean bad and the feature list certainly makes this a monitor worth looking at.
Have you tried the products from Cinemartin yet? Let us know in the comments below!

After the great success of their Kickstarter campaign for their Everyday Messenger bag, Peak Design returns with 4 new bags in their Everyday range.
The concept of the Peak Design Everyday Bag seems to be quite simple, really. Expandable, functional and tough camera bags that adapt to the needs and active lifestyles of shooters and muggles alike. Their original Everyday Messenger bag, with its custom made hardware and origami-inspired FlexFold dividers proved to be quite a hit with Kickstarter backers. Now, they are back with another crowdfunding campaign already funded almost 4 times over, and still with a month and a half to go.
You can pre-order the Everyday Bags for the prices below. However, Peak Designed has reintroduced limited early bird prices, so you can even knock off another 10 bucks off the price while the early bird offer lasts.
The Peak Design campaigns have been very well received by backers on Kickstarter. They certainly have earned the trust of their consumers, offer a lifetime warranty on their products, and are now the most funded active campaign on Kickstarter, so they may be worth a look!
Do you own any other Peak Design products? What do you think of them? Let us know in the comments below.